The Carbonite data backup and file storage service has been occupying the top tens of the best cloud storage services for a long time. That is why we decided to take a look at what it has to offer. It is basically created for business users, providing continual, automatic backup and an easy to use restore wizard and recovery service. It offers its users access from mobile, desktop and web and 24/7 email support, live chat and phone support at all levels of service.
Carbonite offers an interesting pricing structure, by providing unlimited cloud storage and backup at a flat rate. Compared to other online cloud storage services, it is a bit pricey, but most users and reviewers say it is worth it. Once you pay for the service, you get all year round use and additional features at no cost. The company offers several low priced solutions for personal and business use. The premium packages, however, are strictly directed to large businesses.
The service is not a complex one. It simply provides you with the opportunity to restore your accidentally deleted or lost files and folders, once they have been backed up to the cloud. Accidental deletions can be immediately repaired when using the Carbonite desktop application. Also, if your computer gets stolen or lost, simply log into your Carbonite account from your new computer, hit Restore, and your files will be automatically downloaded to your new system.
Carbonite Pro uses the Blowfish 128-bit encryption for their client information, thus ensuring your data is always safe and protected in the cloud.
Since Carbonite Pro offers a free trial version for 30 days, we strongly advise you to try it before you subscribe to a paid plan. This way you will have the opportunity to familiarize with the service and decide if it fits your needs.
To use the service, you need to install the desktop application. During the installation process you are explained the steps you have to perform in order to backup and store your files. At this point you can also specify the folders that shall be subjected to continuous backup.
You also particularly specify what files shall not be backed up.
When the desktop application is already installed, the online backup process starts automatically. You can manually turn it On and Off anytime.
On the web platform you are presented with a cloud storage dashboard, where you can observe the status of your data backup.
Unfortunately, the upload speeds are not particularly high, and if you have a lot of files to backup, the process may be quite clumsy and long lasting. Also, the desktop application has the tendency to “freeze” in the process of file backup. Not a particularly wonderful software application fulfillment, we must say.
However, there is one more application, provided by Carbonite, and actually, you cannot go without it. This is the Carbonite Sync & Share app, which is available for desktop, laptop and mobile – iOS and Android.
Once installed, by default it creates a list of your recent files (the ones you created for the last 30 days) and automatically backs them up to the cloud. All the changes you make to your files on your multiple devices will be automatically synced across all of them.
Users can keep their collaborators up-to-date with the Sync & Share functionality. They can securely share their files via the application. Collaboration is just a click away. Simply choose a document and click the Share option, and you are good to go.
Once you do that, add your collaborators' email addresses in the field, and they will get an email, inviting them to your files.
